I have been off work for the past six months
I have several collapsed discs in my spine which is very painful (another story)
Anyway I have stopped getting statutory sick pay from work
and now get incapacity benefit,
I have had a letter from the job center asking me to attend an interview to see if they can get me back to work
I already still have my job if I could do it,

So do I have to attend,
are they not wanting to pay my incapacity
What ammuses me its the first time in 26 years after paying a full stamp that I have ever claimed a penny,
plus my husband has worked for 30years and he's never claimed anything
so I think between us we have helped towrds my benefit.

If its not to get me a job waht will it be for
I've also got to go for a medical exam at the end of August somewhere in Sheffield
is this normal procedure,
could do with a bit of help from some one who knows
like I said never done this before,

Pm'd you. :)

I think that they're entitled to stop any benefits if you don't attend for interviews- but they may not be aware of the state of your claim and your medical issues, so I'd ring them and check out whether this is one of their 'come or we stop your money' interviews or just one where they are assessing if there's any way they can help you into supported work.

If they decide that you have to attend then I'm afraid you don't really have much option other than to jump through their hoops- there's a lot of jumping through hoops in the benefits system.

I think that they're entitled to stop any benefits if you don't attend for interviews- but they may not be aware of the state of your claim and your medical issues, so I'd ring them and check out whether this is one of their 'come or we stop your money' interviews or just one where they are assessing if there's any way they can help you into supported work.

If they decide that you have to attend then I'm afraid you don't really have much option other than to jump through their hoops- there's a lot of jumping through hoops in the benefits system.

Are you actually able to travel to the job centre? Your condition sounds extremely painful.

My ex husband had a below the knee amputation and the stump would not heal. They still insisted that he attend interviews and he also had to go and see their doctor for a medical. He had to attend because we was not suffering pain and could get about on crutches.

Are you actually able to travel to the job centre? Your condition sounds extremely painful.

My ex husband had a below the knee amputation and the stump would not heal. They still insisted that he attend interviews and he also had to go and see their doctor for a medical. He had to attend because we was not suffering pain and could get about on crutches.

Ugh, stupid job centre and their retarded rules! :rant:

If the man has to use crutches to move, it should be blindingly obvious to anyone who isn't retarded that he's disabled for chuff sake! But of course the JC don't care about the disabled, they just want to fill their quotas of people they've gotten into work! :rant: :loopy:

Trust me I've been on the Dole and seen how stupid most job centre staff are.. Please note I said most, not all before I get jumped on from a great height.

I would guess you would have to go along to see them, yes.

They work to rules, one of which may be if someone doesn't come in when they are 'supposed' to that person may lose their benefits.

If you possibly can get there, do. Then try to explain the situation face to face rather than fighting through a quagmire of beurocacy in the post/on the phone.

I have been off work for the past six months
I have several collapsed discs in my spine which is very painful (another story)
Anyway I have stopped getting statutory sick pay from work
and now get incapacity benefit,
I have had a letter from the job center asking me to attend an interview to see if they can get me back to work


I've also got to go for a medical exam at the end of August somewhere in Sheffield
is this normal procedure,


Normal procedure is:

You get a form asking you to fill in details of your incapacity.
Once that's filled in, they will summon you to a medical exam.

If the medical examiner decrees you are capable of work, you do not qualify for incapacity benefit. If he decrees that you are not, you no longer need to hand in sicknotes.

Once you've been given the "cannot work" sign the first time, they keep sending the forms out about every year or so, but in seven years I've never yet been called back in for a second medical exam. Since your condition doesn't sound like one that's likely to improve, I doubt you will be either.

Why you have to attend the jobcentre for any purpose is beyond me. It's nothing to do with them at this point; still, if they say you have to go, you'd best go or they might stop paying you anything.

Ugh, stupid job centre and their retarded rules! :rant:

If the man has to use crutches to move, it should be blindingly obvious to anyone who isn't retarded that he's disabled for chuff sake! But of course the JC don't care about the disabled, they just want to fill their quotas of people they've gotten into work! :rant: :loopy:

Trust me I've been on the Dole and seen how stupid most job centre staff are.. Please note I said most, not all before I get jumped on from a great height.

Hahaha his doctor and the hospital were not too happy about it. They felt the job centre were checking up on them as much as him. But in the end it is petty bureaucracy. Once he had done the interview and the medical no one bothered him for years. In fact he is still not working even though the stump has healed and he uses a false limb.

Perhaps some of the long term unemployed on here could give you advice.

Perhaps some of the long term unemployed on here could give you advice.

The long term unemployed are not likely to be in the same circumstances as the OP, if you read the OP carefully.

She's not asking about unemployment benefits- she's asking about Incapacity Benefit.

The long term unemployed are not likely to be in the same circumstances as the OP, if you read the OP carefully.

She's not asking about unemployment benefits- she's asking about Incapacity Benefit.

Really? i thought it mentioned a back to work interview!

Really? i thought it mentioned a back to work interview!

It did; and since she's apparently physically incapable of doing any work, she wants to know whether it's necessary to attend at all.

Mary I'm on IS because of illness pm me and I'll see if I can help with what I've been through

It did; and since she's apparently physically incapable of doing any work, she wants to know whether it's necessary to attend at all.


Im not disputing whether or not the poster is fit to work, and fortunately for many, its not my job, but should the job centres simply take the word of somebody claiming, or should they require proof?

Perhaps the lady in question is starting to realise how the genuinely incapacitated after a lifetime of working are seemingly targetted by job centre staff, whilst those with nothing wrong seem to sail through such interviews, good luck to her.

Im not disputing whether or not the poster is fit to work, and fortunately for many, its not my job, but should the job centres simply take the word of somebody claiming, or should they require proof?


See my above post re medical examination. The jobcentre should NOT require proof; that's what the medical exam is for. Nobody in the jobcentre is qualified to make that judgment.

See my above post re medical examination. The jobcentre should NOT require proof; that's what the medical exam is for. Nobody in the jobcentre is qualified to make that judgment.

As the medical exam has not been taken, do the job centre staff not have the right to ask for an interview? they do not know the lady in question as by all accounts she has never been a "customer" of theirs before.

I have been off work for the past six months
I have several collapsed discs in my spine which is very painful (another story)
Anyway I have stopped getting statutory sick pay from work
and now get incapacity benefit,
I have had a letter from the job center asking me to attend an interview to see if they can get me back to work
I already still have my job if I could do it,

When someone first claims Incapacity Benefit, unless it can be waived, there has to be a 'Work Focused Interview'. It's just a condition of receiving help. There's no 'forcing you to get a job' involved in the interview, especially as your post is being held open for you.

So do I have to attend,

Yes.

are they not wanting to pay my incapacity

No.

What ammuses me its the first time in 26 years after paying a full stamp that I have ever claimed a penny,
plus my husband has worked for 30years and he's never claimed anything
so I think between us we have helped towrds my benefit.

Not in doubt.

If its not to get me a job waht will it be for

See above.

I've also got to go for a medical exam at the end of August somewhere in Sheffield
is this normal procedure,

Yes. It's called a Personal Capability Assessment. When you move from SSP to IB, you need to complete a form (IB50), and if it's deemed necessary, to have this assessment. The assessment will be at Hartshead Square.

could do with a bit of help from some one who knows
like I said never done this before,

Hope that helped!

As the medical exam has not been taken, do the job centre staff not have the right to ask for an interview? they do not know the lady in question as by all accounts she has never been a "customer" of theirs before.

It's a condition of claiming a Jobcentre Plus benefit, nothing personal at all involved. It's just procedure.

See my above post re medical examination. The jobcentre should NOT require proof; that's what the medical exam is for. Nobody in the jobcentre is qualified to make that judgment.

Not quite. The IB50 form contains a lot of medical evidence which can be corroborated. If a decision maker thinks there is no need for the examination on the basis of the evidence presented, it won't take place. What I'm saying is that a civil servant may make the decision, but in this case a GP will conduct the assessment, and score the OP accordingly.

I think there's some confusion about the role of Jobcentre Plus in this; it was much clearer to the public when it was the Employment Service and Benefits Agency.

The only 'job centre' involvement in this process is the Work Focused Interview. Everything else is processed by what was BA. It's just all under the Jobcentre Plus 'umbrella'. It's only because 'Jobcentre' is in the title that people get a bit confused.

Im not disputing whether or not the poster is fit to work, and fortunately for many, its not my job, but should the job centres simply take the word of somebody claiming, or should they require proof?

Perhaps the lady in question is starting to realise how the genuinely incapacitated after a lifetime of working are seemingly targetted by job centre staff, whilst those with nothing wrong seem to sail through such interviews, good luck to her.

Oh give it a rest. It's merely because it's the start of a claim to a benefit as her SSP has stopped. It's perfectly normal procedure. She's just a bit unsure as she hasn't had to go through the process before.

I agree about the good luck though.

As the medical exam has not been taken, do the job centre staff not have the right to ask for an interview?

No, they don't.

No, they don't.

Going by a previous post, perhaps they do.

Going by a previous post, perhaps they do.

No, they don't.

I've been through all this. I know whereof I speak.

No, they don't.

Yes they do, however, if you are called in for a work focused interview, the invitation letter must contain a warning as to the consequences if you fail to attend. The legislation is here http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032439.htm

Well a big thankyou everybody,
You were right happyhippy I have to go for a medical exam at hartshead
But that is after I have been to the job center,
at the moment I am still getting a sick note every month,
so will I not have to do that when i have been for the medical.
The other question what do they do at the medical,
my problem is with my discs, and to be able to see that, I had to have x-rays
Never realised this would all be this complicated,
but my doctor doesn't think, there really is a job I can do
I cant sit for long, but cant stand either,
and if the job center happened to think I could do a job,
who would employ some one who had just had months off work.
So will the medical people relay this to the job center.

Just read your post heyesey, so it looks I dont have to go to the job center
until I've had the medical

The other thing you could do at your interview is ask about Reasonable Adjustments as they might be able to make some for you in your old job and get you some help - if your old job is still open of course! Depending on what's the issue, your company may even get financial help to adjust your role or provide adaptations.

If the man has to use crutches to move, it should be blindingly obvious to anyone who isn't retarded that he's disabled for chuff sake! But of course the JC don't care about the disabled, they just want to fill their quotas of people they've gotten into work! :rant: :loopy:


Considering how quick you are to have a go at people who aren't aware of disability-related issues you sometimes show an amazing lack of consideration yourself Rich.

Are you saying that because someone has difficulty walking they should be labelled as 'disabled' and are therefore not deserving of all the assistance which is available to help them get back into work?

Oh, and have you ever thought about why Jobcentre staff may sometimes feel under pressure to 'fill quotas'? It's because the government sets Jobcentre Plus targets. You might like to ask your MP (especially if they're Labour) why the government is now asking Jobcentre Plus to focus on assisting disabled people into work. Ultimately Jobcentre Plus is simply there to do what the government wants it to do in relation to benefits, training, employment etc.

Considering how quick you are to have a go at people who aren't aware of disability-related issues you sometimes show an amazing lack of consideration yourself Rich.

Are you saying that because someone has difficulty walking they should be labelled as 'disabled' and are therefore not deserving of all the assistance which is available to help them get back into work?

Oh, and have you ever thought about why Jobcentre staff may sometimes feel under pressure to 'fill quotas'? It's because the government sets Jobcentre Plus targets. You might like to ask your MP (especially if they're Labour) why the government is now asking Jobcentre Plus to focus on assisting disabled people into work. Ultimately Jobcentre Plus is simply there to do what the government wants it to do in relation to benefits, training, employment etc.

No, I'm not saying that at all. All I'm saying that in a lot of cases, getting the RIGHT kind of help is like getting blood out of a stone! Trust me I've been battling the system for 17 years since I did my first ever work placement from School at 14 trying to get a paid job but everywhere I go as soon as you tell the boss you're disabled they all but slam the door in your face!

They can bring out all the equal opportunities laws they want but until they actually ENFORCE them they realistically mean bugger all IMO.

Rant over.

I'm in a foul mood today for reasons I'd rather not go into, so that's all I'm saying.

No, they don't.

I've been through all this. I know whereof I speak.

There have been wholesale changes in legislation since you were last called in, mate.